TONEDB

organ from “no woman, no cry” by bob marley & the wailers | ToneDB

no woman, no cry

bob marley & the wailers

organ

95% ai confidence

Tone Profile

A warm, soulful, and iconic organ sound, characterized by the rich harmonics of a Hammond B3 and the swirling, doppler effect of a Leslie speaker, providing both gentle underpinning and emotional swells.

Signal Chain

Instrument: Hammond B3 Organ

Amp: Leslie 122 Speaker Cabinet (or similar, e.g., Leslie 147)

Microphone: Neumann U87 (on Leslie cabinet)

Processing: Leslie speed control (chorale/tremolo)

Other: A Direct Input (DI) signal was also taken from the organ (pre-Leslie) and blended with the miked Leslie signal during mixing. This blend is crucial for the recorded tone.

Recording Notes

  • The most iconic version is from the 'Live!' album, recorded at the Lyceum Theatre, London, in July 1975.
  • Keyboardist Tyrone Downie's Hammond organ signal was split: one path to a Leslie speaker (miked with a Neumann U87) and another path taken as a Direct Input (DI).
  • The final organ sound is a blend of the clean DI signal and the swirling, amplified sound from the miked Leslie cabinet.
  • The organ provides a continuous harmonic foundation and emotive melodic fills throughout the song.

Recreation Tips

  • Start with classic Hammond drawbar settings like 888000000 for a full, foundational tone. Adjust by adding upper drawbars (e.g., 888400000) for more presence in fills.
  • Master the Leslie speed control: use the slow 'chorale' setting for verses and sustained parts, switching to the fast 'tremolo' setting for emphasis, swells, and melodic lines.
  • Incorporate the Hammond's built-in vibrato/chorus (C3 setting is a common choice for this style).
  • When using emulations (plugins or clonewheel organs), experiment with blending a DI signal with the Leslie simulation. Many plugins offer a 'mix' or 'blend' control for this, or you can achieve it by routing.
  • Listen for the subtle use of percussion on the Hammond for some phrases, though it's generally not a dominant feature in this song's organ part.

Sources